Moving to Bristol

Savvy_Sue

Tondella wrote:

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, it looks like Bristol has a lot to offer.

It certainly does.

Tondella wrote:

preferably by walking or with a good bus route on stand-by.

Just no 'good' bus routes, IMO. :rotfl:

OK, I'm a bit cynical about the bus routes. The 8/9 route might be OK, it's meant to be frequent and it's circular, taking in Clifton / Redland and Temple Meads, IIRC.

And the P&Rs aren't too bad.

I guess when you start with a 10 minute frequency, it's not too bad if one or two get cancelled. When you start with a 20 or 30 minute frequency, you're doomed ...

Tondella wrote:

Some of the posters have recommended park and ride, or living near a train line. I'm a bit concerned about the price of a season rail ticket, plus horrified to see on the news this morning all the problems with Great Western rail commuting - are the same issues faced by local services in and around Bristol?

Not IMO. For example, on the Severn Beach line, a day return from Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads will set you back £1.60. A weekly ticket for roughly the same journey on the bus is £13.50, ie £2.70 per journey if you only use it 5 days. I have a 10 journey ticket for the odd time when I use 'normal' buses: £24, ie £2.40 per journey! That's the same price as a 20 journey ticket on the Park and Ride I use more often. Truly, the bus prices are horrendous.

But go to the First Group website and have a look at routes in the areas you're interested in. I guess if you're not too far out you'll have a choice of routes: I consider myself lucky to have a choice of train, P&R and the 40 where I live, and further in lots of routes are 'shared', but if you're dependent on ONE route it can get very tricky.

The downside of the Severn Beach train line is that it's not frequent: never better than hourly, and around peak times less than hourly. If its arrival and departure times suit you, it's great. It's crowded then, but I've never failed to get a seat.

I don't know what the other 'suburban' lines are like. There aren't that many of them.

Of course there's always the ferry! I don't think it's cheap but there are some lovely looking new apartments by the harbour, and a ferry goes to Temple Meads!

Just remembered, when we moved here, I wrote to the council or the TIO, can't remember which, and got sent a large pack of information which was very helpful. This page might be useful to you for starters.

Apart from the buses, it is a great city! On your first visit, pick up a phrase book: Krek waiter's peak Bristle is good for starters ... :rotfl:

V_Chic_Chick

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Things change. The B&W cafe has been replaced by some very attractive looking housing. I don't think we've had the firework battles running the length of that road for a couple of years now. I don't know where you get your information about the number of pimps in the area: you might be surprised at how much 'independent' working there is. Yes there are drugs easily available (or so I've been told, no-one's ever offered me any, or propositioned me, come to that) but its reputation is worse than it deserves to be these days.

And give the girl a break, if she lives or used to live in St Pauls where's she supposed to hang out?

I try to avoid it . . . . as for the girl, she definately doesn't live in St Pauls.

Westbury on Trym is a nice area. The primary school there is good (I went there). Lots of little shops and a large park at one end. Not far from Cribbs and therefore Asda Walmart.

The bus service is terrible. Overpriced, and unreliable. Often, you wait ages for a bus, and literally three turn up at once (mum once had FIVE turn up at once).

As for brizzle (the local lingo), try translating this Tondella Aye aven't seen youse in ages. Ow be yon yung un?

Anam? Wherz that to?

Awwight me luvver?

tomstickland

Tondella wrote:

Thanks Tom, lovin' your sig, we're mighty mighty boosh fans too

Nicey nicey zoo zoo.

indiegirl_2

Tondella wrote:

How studenty is Clifton? For anyone who knows them - I have lived in Lenton, Nottingham...

Nope, Clifton's not as studenty as Lenton - not from how I remember Lenton (lived in Notty nearly 7yrs ago!) and Clifton (lived in Bristol 2yrs ago) - plus, the pubs/bars/restaurants are much better in Clifton

Savvy_Sue

V_Chic_Chick wrote:

I try to avoid it . . . . as for the girl, she definately doesn't live in St Pauls.

So YOU don't know what St Pauls is like now, you're basing your advice on hearsay and past history. And surely we are all entitled to go wherever we like in Bristol without having aspersions cast on our character! If this girl's dad used to own the B&W, there are presumably family friends still in St Pauls. You and I might not choose to have them as OUR friends, but then I suspect the feeling is mutual. Although as I've already said, I have no problems working in the area, and find the people around me perfectly civil and friendly. There are aspects I don't enjoy: in the summer numerous outdoor barbecues create smells I could do without, and loud music blasting from every nearby building and parked car (with the windows open) is distracting. But some people find these these things charming, and who am I to judge them?

WoT, you'll be dependent on those dreadful buses (and at least V Chic Chick and I agree about that!) or a bike. A bit toffee nosed for my taste.

I'd say that Clifton is a mixture of students and well-heeled permanent residents. So it isn't deserted out of term-time. Parking - well, you'd definitely want allocated parking with a flat if you lived there, or just give up your car! Very congested ...

We do have at least one Car Club in Bristol, btw, so if you live in one of those areas giving up your car is worth considering.

Tondella

Thanks again for all the useful advice. OH will probably be commuting out of Bristol and so we would need a car, I don't intend to buy one (haven't yet), although my work will require a bit of travelling, I'm hoping i can arrange some car sharing, no need to start a convoy. Is it advisable to have secure parking in clifton then?

Savvy_Sue

I wouldn't say 'secure' parking, just that if you don't have an allocated parking place, you'll be fighting with 101 other people for a very limited number! Some streets are quite narrow and by the time you get cars on both sides it's a right game!

lyndarling

I`ve lived in Easton for 21 years, and it no different to anywhere else ! Its very multicultural, but I think thats a good thing.
St Marks road, is very good for shopping, there are also several restaraunts, there is a large Tescos nearby, and a leisure centre.

Savvy_Sue

lyndarling wrote:

I`ve lived in Easton for 21 years, and it no different to anywhere else ! Its very multicultural, but I think thats a good thing.
St Marks road, is very good for shopping, there are also several restaraunts, there is a large Tescos nearby, and a leisure centre.

Lyn's making a good point here (welcome Lyn!) - all those doom and gloom merchants running down St Pauls should point to an area of the city which doesn't have any drug related crime. I will concede that there are places where the local dog walkers would put off anyone attempting to do anything on the street, but it goes on!

Bristol does proclaim its multiculturalism from the rooftops, but to misquote George Orwell: all of Bristol is multicultural, but some parts of Bristol are more multicultural than others ...

lyndarling

thanks for the welcome Sue ! I think Easton is great, anf there are two Eastons, Upper and Lower, we live in Lower Easton. I forgot to mention the Bristol to Bath cycle track, which is just like being in the country ! here is a real community spirit here .